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property overview

A dramatic courtyard allée leads up to Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg, housed in a dashing Baroque castle.

Driving up to the Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg conjures visions of an old-world arrival, thanks to a dramatic courtyard allée that leads to the dashing Baroque castle. Built some 300 years ago, the Schloss occupies an enviable hillside location with views of the Cologne skyline. Grandeur continues in the guest rooms, with high ceilings and elegant furnishings; special touches include an in-room Jacuzzi in one suite and exposed wood-beam ceilings in some top-floor accommodations. Romantic and serene, Bensberg has a loyal culinary following, thanks to restaurant Vendôme, headed by award-winning chef Joachim Wissler. The more casual Jan Wellem, named for the castle's first owner, draws a chic crowd on Sundays for its Champagne brunch.
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Awards & Accolades

We Recommend

Best Activity/Excursion

698 Cologne Beach Club

In warm-weather months, pull up a chaise (or, better yet, rent a cabana) at this beach club on a stretch of actual white sand with an incredible view facing Cologne Cathedral. www.km689.rhein-terrassen.de.

Best One-Stop Shop

Apropos The Concept Store

Since 1984, Klaus Ritzenhöfer and Daniel Riedo’s elegant shop has been the destination in Cologne to find the latest trends in men’s and women’s designer clothing. www.apropos-store.com.

Best Restaurant Classic

Brauhaus zur Malzmühle

Enjoy “Kölsch” culture at one of the city’s best brewhouses, where local dishes are presented with plenty of beer, served in frequent rounds in signature slender glasses. (49-2) 2121-0117; www.muehlenkoelsch.de.

Museum Must-See

Chocolate Museum

This engaging museum at the Rheinau Harbour explores the history of chocolate, from an agricultural product to an artisanal and industrial one. Don’t miss the chocolate fountain at the end of the exhibits. www.chocolatemuseum-cologne.com.

Best Family Activity

Cologne Zoo

One of the oldest zoos—founded in 1860—this zoo charts the evolution of the concept through its architecture and design, from its 19th-century Moorish-style elephant house to its modern recreation of the rain forest. www.koelnerzoo.de.

Best View

Köln Triangle

This 2005 office tower is one of Cologne’s tallest buildings, and its “panorama platform” on the roof, which is open to the public, offers incredible views of the city and the Rhine River. www.koelntriangle.de.

Best Newcomer

Vanity Club & Cuisine

A restaurant and nightclub in one, this sleekly designed spot with a cool, industrial feel is a hit for both its Mediterranean-inspired dishes and its music, from both DJs and live acts. www.vanity.cc.

Best Shopping Neighborhood

Zentrum

You’ll find the best collection of shops—from fashion to design—concentrated on three centrally located streets: Ehrenstrasse, Mittelstrasse and Pfeilstrasse.